Thursday - Grudging permission from work for 4 day weekend.
Frantically chucked necessary supplies in vehicle (forgot camera,
).
4 am Friday - Left Nova Scotia for NH. 10/11 hours later, settled into HP (thanks, Bruno). Got food, water, checked out trailhead, agonized about forecasted weather.
6:30 am Saturday - Bought shelter ticker, began climb. A few people on the trail, forecast must've scared 'em off. Dropped overnite stuff off at shelter, arrived at bowl (1st time evah with skis). Weather was perfect
(dry, little or no wind). Teamed up with Ken and Pat and began climb. 1st run was from just below and to the left of the hourglass. 2nd run from top of Left Gully, then Chute from below large fracture. Did right Gully from as high up as was practical. Saw one ice ball roll by. A few more partial runs until complete exhaustion forced me back to Hojos. Some celebratory libations
with some Philly folk and a trio from Montreal, then a fairly cool nite in the shelter.
7:00 am Sunday - Grabbed my skis
, headed for Hillmans. A snowboarder
bounds by heading up RG and down Hillmans (good, he can pull my lifeless body off the mountain after my cardiac arrest)
. Conditions are perfect, still cool enough that the snow is firm. When I reach the bottom, my body tells me nirvana has been reached. I grab my overnite stuff and head down the Sherby until snow runs out. My hike to PN is uneventful.
I can't believe how incredible this place is. Perfect weather and snow, multiple runs, good company, no physical damage. Now for the 10/11 hour drive home
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